Subhechcha Ganguly 
The Indian government has strongly condemned Pakistan for launching an unprovoked drone and missile assault on Indian cities while keeping its civilian airspace open, a move it described as a deliberate and reckless endangerment of innocent lives.
Speaking at a press briefing, Wing Commander Vyomika Singh of the Indian Air Force (IAF) stated that Pakistan initiated an aerial attack on May 7 at approximately 8:30 p.m., targeting multiple locations across Jammu, Punjab, and Rajasthan. The attack, confirmed by the Ministry of Defence to have originated from Pakistan, was successfully intercepted by Indian air defence systems.
Despite the aggression, Pakistan did not shut down its civilian airspace. According to India, this was a calculated attempt to use commercial airliners as shields against a potential Indian counterstrike.
“Pakistan did not close its civil airspace despite launching a failed, unprovoked drone and missile attack on Indian cities,” said Wing Commander Singh. “They are using civil airliners as a shield, knowing fully well that their actions would elicit a swift air defence response from India.”
Singh warned of the severe risk posed to domestic and international flights operating near the International Border, particularly in the Punjab sector, during the heightened alert.
During the briefing, radar visuals sourced from FlightRadar24 were presented, showing uninterrupted commercial air traffic over Pakistani cities like Karachi and Lahore at the time of the attack. In stark contrast, India had immediately closed its own airspace in the affected areas to prevent any harm to civilian aircraft.
India has condemned Pakistan’s actions as “reckless and irresponsible,” asserting that lives of international passengers were needlessly placed at risk. Singh further emphasized that the IAF demonstrated “considerable restraint” by withholding immediate retaliation to avoid civilian casualties.
The Pakistani strike triggered emergency protocols across Indian cities, including blackouts, air raid sirens, and the suspension of the IPL match underway in Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh.
Tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have intensified following the failed attack, with India maintaining a high state of alert along the western front.
